Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

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George Stolz

George Stolz

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Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
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Hospital Master Electrician
I've been looking for a machine or jig that will work on sharpening auger bits. I'm in a shop with 40+ guys who have probably around 3 bits apiece, with about 30 in the bucket at the shop.

Volume is key, but I'd rather not jack the bits up with a right angle grinder (like the last guy did). Since most of the bits have been sharpened once with some curve (I'm assuming from a right angle grinder), I'm not holding much hope for flattening the existing bits.

Anybody have a jig to sell or know where I can find something to do the job? I would prefer to be in the less than $500 range, but any insight is appreciated. Since bits are $30 a pop, for a machine or jig that will last, it will be more cost-effective to sharpen, I hope. :)

The alternative I'm seeing is supplying everybody with a triangle file, but I don't see that panning out.

Thanks,
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

The alternative I'm seeing is supplying everybody with a triangle file
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If it was my shop, they would be buying their own file and sharpening their own bits.

That was one of the first things a young apprentice had to learn in my day.

Would you want an electrician that can't sharpen a bit wiring your house?

You could organize a training session and teach them how to do it properly.

Ed
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

I learned with a file too, I prefer the half-round type.

We now use a dremel tool. It works well and takes but a minute.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

I well remember learning the filing of augers at my Daddy's knee. . .no foolin'. I still have his brace and bit set with the edge just as sharp and square as he left it.

I finally settled on a triangular rat tail until the last four years. I found, for the way I do the filing, the triangle left the least collateral damage.

Then I experimented with a Dremel. . .and, boy what an improvement in control, and a savings in time. With the Dremel, I've dramatically improved file sharpened blades.

I know I can fall back on the file, which I keep in the tool bucket on the job, but if I can wait for the Dremel, I will.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

I don't know it's make or model, but it looks like this:
AugerDremelGrindingWheel.jpg
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

We only buy greenlee naileaters,have found these can be sharpened over and over.I used the same bit for aloooonnnggg time always hit it with my file before starting the drilling process,looked for nails :D
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

I am an avid hunter, amateur wood-worker, and sharpen all sorts of tools and knives for everybody and their dog for a fee. The easiest, fastest, least expensive way is to use what professional sharpeners use, paper wheels. http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=219&refcode=05INFROO&PRID=Frgl219

You can Google ?Razor Sharp Knife Sharpening? and get dozens of hits. It consists of two paper wheels that attach to a bench grinder. One wheel is coated with silicon carbide and beeswax. The other is just pain paper you apply jeweler rouge to knock the wire burr off and polish with.

The system works with anything, scissors, wood tools, knives, drill bits, scalpels, razors, you name it. In sixty seconds or less you can put a razor edge on a bowling ball. No it does not eat, grind, or blue the steel. It only removes enough material to restore an edge.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

I pulled out my Dremel and tried it a few years back and it got them sharper than any file. So that's what I use on them now. The tip shown works. I have also used the flat side of the cut off tool with great success. But a flat bottomed stone would last a lot longer if you have to sharpen many at a time.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

And just for informational purposes only, they are called ship augers, because they originated for use on wooden ships.

I , too, used to call them 'chip' augers for a long time until I was corrected.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

Would you want an electrician that can't sharpen a bit wiring your house
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Uh oh! I have not ever even tried to sharpen a bit. I work alone so I take care of my stuff but obviously they get dull. That's where the supply house comes in.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

I have seen some of them so called journeymen from staffing companies destroy a brand new augar in 2 hours.Turned it black and beyond sharpening.Also have had them bend them just as fast. :mad:
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

Ed,
I agree with you , I have always sharpened a bit with a file. One of the first things I learned to do as an electrician's helper. A dremel may be easier, but must shorten the bit life.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

Scott, good to have company. :D

Thanks all, for the excellent suggestions. I think I saw a bench grinder at the shop, might try that first. I'd just feel bad for the shop guy, having to sharpen all those bits by hand! :D

Edit to add: I'm not counting out the dremel either! :D

[ March 15, 2005, 12:07 AM: Message edited by: georgestolz ]
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

Not sure of your areas but we have a guy that comes to our shop once a month and does a great job for $1.50 a bit,but he only sharpens greenlee naileaters ;) The cheaper ones don`t hold an edge.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

I'm curious about those "nail-eaters". Will they really deal with nails?
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

They're OK, but they get dull after a few 16 penny nails. At least they don't shatter. I like 'em.
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

I left my helper on a job one day for a couple hours and asked him if he could try to get through a footer I was having trouble with. Turned out it was on top of a foundation and he spent like an hour destroying my auger making smoke with it. I guess "if you have any trouble with it I'll deal with it later" must mean don't give up until the whole thing turns blue. :D
 
Re: Wood Chip Auger Bit Sharpener

Originally posted by physis:
don't give up until the whole thing turns blue. :D
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I had a helper drilling 3/8" holes in fence metal fence poles so I could bond them.

I went out a couple of times and gave him grief for taking so long, I went out again and he had gotten through the first one but the hole was oval shaped and the drill bit blue. :D

[ March 15, 2005, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: iwire ]
 
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